1 of 10
Monthly rent (luxury apt.):
$6,500
International newspaper:
$5.42
Cup of coffee:
$3.88
Gas (per liter):
$0.63
Oil has brought this southern African country vast riches, but high taxes and internal strife keep prices extremely high. For Americans who come to work here, everything can cost top dollar. A pair of blue jeans will cost an average $204, according to consulting firm Mercer's annual survey.
Such sky-high prices have created a big chasm between the haves and have-nots, with 40.5% of the population living in poverty according to the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA.)
One thing that is relatively cheap here: gas, at an average of 63 cents a liter. But you'll still pay a high price to take a taxi.
2 of 10
Monthly rent (luxury apt.):
$4,600
International newspaper:
$9.95
Cup of coffee:
$8.29
Gas (per liter):
$1.04
Rental apartments in Moscow can make Manhattan's prices look
cheap, with unfurnished luxury two-bedrooms averaging $4,600 a month.
And the imported goods and services that expats commonly want also
command a premium. A gallon of milk costs an average of $7.59. Even a
cup of coffee -- averaging more than $8 -- doesn't come cheap.
3 of 10
Monthly rent (luxury apt.):
$4,513
International newspaper:
$5.37
Cup of coffee:
$6.98
Gas (per liter):
$1.74
Home to 13.2 million people, Tokyo is one of the most
densely-populated cities in the world -- and that means real estate
comes at a premium. Rents here are among some of the most expensive on
the planet, with luxury two-bedroom apartments going for an average of
$4,500 a month, according to Mercer.
4 of 10
Monthly rent (luxury apt.):
$2,245
International newspaper:
$6.94
Cup of coffee:
$3.06
Gas (per liter):
$0.98
Just getting to N'Djamena is expensive. A round-trip flight from
New York's JFK airport to this central African city costs at least
$2,500, on Travelocity. Once you get there, things don't get much cheaper. Order a club sandwich and a soda in Chad's capital city and it will easily cost you $25 or more, according to Mercer's report. Grab the daily paper and it will cost close to $7.
5 of 10
Monthly rent (luxury apt.):
$3,795
International newspaper:
$3.63
Cup of coffee:
$4.84
Gas (per liter):
$1.76
One of the fastest growing economies in the world, Singapore's
per capita income is also one of the highest -- at $51,709. But thanks
to a history of high inflation and taxes, residents still pay top dollar
for goods and services. When eating at a restaurant in Singapore, for example, be prepared to fork over a 7% goods and services tax and pay a 10% service charge, according to the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore.
6 of 10
Monthly rent (luxury apt.):
$7,092
International newspaper:
$3.87
Cup of coffee:
$5.67
Gas (per liter):
$2.23
Hong Kong's rental market is exploding. Home prices have climbed
significantly and potential buyers are having such a hard time securing
financing that they are turning to rental homes instead, according to
Mercer's Miriam Siscovick.While a luxury two-bedroom averages a little more than $7,000 a month, Mercer found that luxury three-bedroom apartments can go for more than $13,500 a month.
7 of 10
Monthly rent (luxury apt.):
$4,350
International newspaper:
$4.35
Cup of coffee:
$6.52
Gas (per liter):
$2.02
One of three Swiss cities to make Mercer's list, Geneva offers
many luxurious, well-crafted goods, as well as many everyday ones --
almost all of which will cost Americans handsomely. Part of the reason is an unfavorable exchange rate. The Swiss franc is more robust than the U.S. dollar. Tickets to the movies will cost an average of $18.50 apiece and a hamburger meal at a fast food joint will put you back about $12.50, according to Mercer.
8 of 10
Monthly rent (luxury apt.):
$3,915
International newspaper:
$4.35
Cup of coffee:
$5.98
Gas (per liter):
$2.02
One of the world's major financial centers, nearly one-quarter of
the city's residents work at banks and investment firms. In fact,
wealth and security are a way of life here. The unemployment rate is a
super low 3.1%. Yet, nothing comes cheap. A club sandwich will cost $30.45 (one of the most expensive club sandwiches in the world) and coffee rings in around $6 a cup, according to Mercer.
9 of 10
Monthly rent (luxury apt.):
$2,687
International newspaper:
$4.35
Cup of coffee:
$4.35
Gas (per liter):
$2.02
Even though Switzerland has experienced some deflation over the
past couple of years, prices for everything from milk to movie tickets
are still staggeringly high. The average cost for a fast food hamburger
meal in Bern is $12.51 and a pair of blue jeans will cost an average
$138. For Americans, the prices are made all the more cumbersome due to an unfavorable exchange rate.
10 of 10
Monthly rent (luxury apt.):
$2,551
International newspaper:
$6.20
Cup of coffee:
$5.16
Gas (per liter):
$1.51
A tight housing market has made Sydney an extremely expensive
place for anyone to live. Few vacancies have driven rental prices
higher, with the average rent on a luxury two-bedroom hitting more than
$2,500 a month. Prices for other goods aren't cheap either: Want a burger and a soda? That will cost you more than $9. A trip to the movies for two? Close to $40 -- and that's without popcorn.
I have been to more expensive cities that are not listed here. This was not a proper research. Anyway, thanks for sharing.
ReplyDelete